Heddle frame

ABSTRACT

A heddle frame is provided with at least one vertical side support to the ends of which the horizontal frame staves are connected by vertical screw bolts which are in axial alignment with each other and also are disposed parallel to the vertical side support. Upon loosening the screw bolts the side support may be pivoted away from the adjacent ends of the horizontal staves to expose the ends of heddle carrying rods attached to the staves, so that the heddles may easily be slidably attached and removed from the rods.

United States Patent 1 1 1 51 Aug. 21, 1973 Koch l l HEDDLE FRAME3.335,7s9 8/1967 Koch 139/91 3.604,469 9/l97l Kloten et al. 139/91 [75Inventor: Bernhard R. Koch, Horgenberg,

Switzerland Primary Examiner-Henry S. Jaudon l Asslgflfiel GI'Ob 81Aktiengesellschafl, Attorney-Benjamin H. Sherman, Donald J. SimpsonHorgenberg, Switzerland et 2 Fl 11: M 9 1972 [2 1 57 ABSTRACT [21] Appl251687 A heddle frame is provided with at least one vertical sidesupport to the ends of which the horizontal frame [30] ForeignApplication Priorit D staves are connected by vertical screw bolts whichare May 13 1971 Switzerland 7099 71 in axial alignment each and aredisposed A I parallel to the vertical side support. Upon loosening the52 us. c1. 139/191 Screw blts the Side suPPon may be pivoted away from511 1111. c1. D03c 9/06 the adiacem ends hrizmal SW98 expose the [58]Field of Search 139/91 92 ends heddle carrying mds attached to the SW95,SO

that the heddles may easily be slidably attached and re- 56] ReferencesCited moved from the rods.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 2,897,844 8/1959 Graf139/91 HEDDLE FRAME The present invention relates to a heddle frame, andparticularly to a frame having a heddle carrying rod fastened along theentire length of each horizontal frame stave. At least one vertical sidesupport is provided at each of its ends with a lateral plate received inrecesses formed in the frame staves. Each plate of the side support andthe frame staves is releasably connected each by at least one screwbolt, whereby the two screw bolts on the side support are arranged inaxial alignment and also parallel to the side support and when tighteneddo tightly secure the side support and the staves in operative position.

Heddle frames of the type relating to the present invention aredescribed for example in the Swiss patent 427,688. In this priorconstruction the side supports are connected with the frame staves byclamping parts of the side supports to complementary parts on the framestaves, whereby the side supports may be withdrawn from the frame stavesafter the removal of the fastening bolts arranged in the plane of theframe staves.

When employing automatic draw-in machines for the heddles it isnecessary to move the side supports out of the range of the heddlecarrying rods so that the heddles can be attached thereto.

The same necessity exists when the heddles are to be manually threadedonto the rods.

In accordance with the present invention these necessities areaccomplished by providing at least on one side of a side support withplate members which enter each into an open recess in the ends of thestaves and providing loose screw bolts so that the side support ishingedly swingable about an axis disposed parallel to the side support.This pivot axis may advantageously be the same as the axis of the screwbolts. The condition wherein the pivotal side support remains connectedto the heddle frame prevents a deformation of the heddle frame; suchdeformation could occur in very wide heddle frames when a side supportis completely removed from the heddle frame.

In a preferred form of the invention in which a single bolt serves toconnect one end of a side support with an adjacent end of a frame stave,it is not necessary to remove the screw bolt and the latter cannot getlost. Still the heddles can quickly and securely be attached or removed.After application or removal of the heddles the side support can beswung back into the plane of the heddle frame whereby the side supportis retained in a central position. The side support is then secured inthe operative position by tightening of the screw bolts which form thepivot axis. The drawing illustrates by way of example two embodiments ofthe invention.

IN THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of one side support in its operativeposition thereof with fragmentary end portions of associated upper andlower frame staves attached thereto.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the upper frame stave.

FIG. 3 is an elevatonal view similar to FIG. 1 but with the side supportshown in an outwardly pivoted position.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of FIG. 2 showing the side support in theoutwardly pivoted position.

FIG. 5 is a view of the heddle frame with the side support in anoutwardly pivoted position and resting on a horizontal support surface.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a corner of a heddle frame showing asecond embodiment of the invention- ,and

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along the lines VII-VII ofFIG. 6.

In accordance with the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS.1 5, the frame staves are designated by the reference character 1 andthe heddle carrying rods extending to the ends of the staves and fixedlyconnected thereto are designated by the reference character 2. A heddlewhich is threaded on the rods 2 is schematically illustrated and isdesignated by the reference character 3. The frame staves areadvantageously made from a lightweight metal and are provided at eachend with a longitudinally extending slit 4. Bar members 5 and 6 made ofsteel are fixedly secured outwardly and inwardly to the slotted ends ofthe staves 1. The outer bar members are provided each with a smooth bore7 devoid of any threads, while the inner bar members 6 are provided eachwith a threaded bore 8. The bores 7 and 8 accommodate a screw bolt 9.The two bolts 9 at the vertically spaced ends of the frame staves 1 arearranged in axial alignment and also so that they are parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the side sup port 10. Plate members 11 are fixed tothe upper and the lower ends of the side support 10. The plate members11 are so dimensioned that they can be accommodated between the spacedbar members 5 and 6. The plate members 11 are each provided with asmooth bore 12 for the passage of the bolt 9. It is obvious that whenthe bolts 9 are inserted into the aligned bores 7,12 and are screwedhome into the threaded bores 8, the plates 11 and the side support 10are clamped in a fixed position,but when the bolts 9 are loosened thesame serve as a hinge axis for the side support 10.

As shown in FIGS. 2 4, the side support 10 is formed at its upper andlower ends each with a recess 13 into which enters a complementaryformed projection 14 on each of the outer bar members 5. In this mannerit is possible to pivot the side support 10 in the direction of thearrow A from the position shown in FIG. 2 into the position shown in theFIGS 3 to 5 and precisely locate the side support 10in its operativeposition. The side support may be pivoted as shown in the FIGS. 4 and 5to an angle greater than so that the heddles may be easily attached orremoved. FIG. 5 demonstrates the utility of pivoting the side supportmore than 90 and when the heddle frame is placed on a table the framestaves 1 are spaced from the support surface and the heddles may beattached and removed without interference. v

The lateral support 10 in the form illustrated is provided with heddlestops in the form of projections 16. The projections 16 prevent theheddles from becoming detached from the heddle track rods during theoperation.

To permit additional centering of the side support in its operativeposition the plate members 1 1 may be provided with a pin 17 which has arounded projecting end which enters into a recess in the outer barmember 5. The slits 4 assure a satisfactory flexibility so that thecentering is unobjectionably achieved. It is also possible to achieve acentral positioning of the side support in its operative position byomitting the projection 14 and the complementary recess 13 and using thepin 17 alone for centering.

The embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in whichidentical parts are identified by like reference characters, differsprimarily from the embodiment of FIGS. 1 in that the side support 10 isnot provided with a recess 13 and the outer bar members 5 are notprovided with a stop forming projection 14. The space between the barmembers 5 and 6 is thereby smooth and uninterrupted. The centering inthe operative position is accomplished by the provision of ribs 18 onthe top and bottom faces of the plate member 11 which engagecomplementary grooves formed in the bar members 5 and 6. When the sidesupport is pivoted either outwardly or inwardly, the bar members 5 and 6yield a distance about double the height of the ribs 18, which due tothe slit 4 is easily possible.

The above described connection of the side support with the frame stavessolves the positioning problem in that a tightening of the screw bolts 9causes the connection between the frame staves and the side support tobecome stationary in the desired position. Upon loosening of the screwbolts one or two turns the side support may be pivoted outwardly andreturned.

in the outwardly turned position the ends of the heddle carrying rodsare exposed and the heddles may be either threaded onto the rods or maybe removed therefrom. Thereafter, the side support again may be easilyreturned to its operative position and the bolts tightened.There are nobearings or releasable fastening means connected to or associated withthe ends of the heddle carrying rods so that wear on these parts isimpossible.

Since the pivoted side support remains connected to the upper and lowerframe staves during the placement or removal of the heddles on theheddle carrying rods 2 it follows that the vertical distance between theheddle carrying rods remains constant. This facilitates the placement orremoval of the heddles.

The construction also permits a complete removal of the side supportwhen the bolts 9 are removed.

For additional security it is also possible to insert additional boltsin the bar members 5, 6 and the plate members 11. This, however, is adisadvantage, because these additional bolts must be removed before theside support can be pivoted about the other bolts and therefore thismodification is used only in special cases.

What I claim is:

l. A heddle frame having side supports and an upper and a lower staveand a heddle carrying rod fixedly attached along the entire length ofeach of said staves, at least one of said side supports having a platemember attached to each of its ends and said plate members extendinginto recesses provided in the adjacent ends of said staves, at least onebolt releasably but firmly connecting at least one end of said staveswith the plate member extending into its associated recess, whereby saidbolts extending through said plate members on one of said side supportsare arranged in axial alignment with each other and parallel to thelongitudinal axis of said side support, so that upon loosening of saidbolts said side support is hinge-like swingable about said axis which isparallel to said longitudinal axis of said side support.

2. A heddle frame according to claim 1, wherein the plate members on theside support are disposed in straight open recesses of said staves so asto be swingable to both sides of the heddle frame plane about said bolts(FIGS. 6 and 7).

3. A heddle frame according to claim 1, including abutments on thestaves which in the operative position of the heddle frame engage saidplate members on said side support and permit a swingable movement ofsaid side support to one side only.

4. A heddle frame according to claim 1, in which the pivot axis of saidside support coincide with the axis of said coaxially disposed bolts.

5. A heddle frame according to claim 1, wherein the plate members on theside support are resiliently clamped between bar members attached to thestaves by means of said bolts.

6. A heddle frame according to claim 1, wherein the plate members onsaid side support are provided with locking means for holding the sidesupport in the plane of the heddle frame.

7. A heddle frame according to claim 1, wherein the plate members onsaid side support are provided with locking means for holding the sidesupport in the plane of the heddle frame, said locking means comprisecomplementary ribs and grooves provided on said plate members and barmembers respectively.

8. A heddle frame according to claim 1, wherein the plate members onsaid side support are provided with locking means for holding the sidesupport in the plane of the heddle frame, said locking means comprise aprojecting pin in one of said members and a cooperating recess in theother members.

1: IF l i i

1. A heddle frame having side supports and an upper and a lower staveand a heddle carrying rod fixedly attached along the entire length ofeach of said staves, at least one of said side supports having a platemember attached to each of its ends and said plate members extendinginto recesses provided in the adjacent ends of said staves, at least onebolt releasably but firmly connecting at least one end of said staveswith the plate member extending into its associated recess, whereby saidbolts extending through said plate members on one of said side supportsare arranged in axial alignment with each other and parallel to thelongitudinal axis of said side support, so that upon loosening of saidbolts said side support is hinge-like swingable about said axis which isparallel to said longitudinal axis of said side support.
 2. A heddleframe according to claim 1, wherein the plate members on the sidesupport are disposed in straight open recesses of said staves so as tobe swingable to both sides of the heddle frame plane about said bolts(FIGS. 6 and 7).
 3. A heddle frame according to claim 1, includingabutments on the staves which in the operative position of the heddleframe engage said plate members on said side support and permit aswingable movement of said side support to one side only.
 4. A heddleframe according to claim 1, in which the pivot axis of said side supportcoincide with the axis of said coaxially disposed bolts.
 5. A heddleframe according to claim 1, wherein the plate members on the sidesupport are resiliently clamped between bar members attached to thestaves by means of said bolts.
 6. A heddle frame according to claim 1,wherein the plate members on said side support are provided with lockingmeans for holding the side support in the plane of the heddle frame. 7.A heddle frame according to claim 1, wherein the plate members on saidside support are provided with locking means for holding the sidesupport in the plane of the heddle frame, said locking means comprisecomplementary ribs and grooves provided on said plate members and barmembers respectively.
 8. A heddle frame according to claim 1, whereinthe plate members on said side support are provided with locking meansfor holding the side support in the plane of the heddle frame, saidlocking means comprise a projecting pin in one of said members and acooperating recess in the other members.